Swansboro commissioner race focuses on fishing center

Five residents vying for three seats on the Swansboro's Board of Commissioners field questions during Thursday night’s candidate forum. They are, from left, Gery Boucher, June Buchanan, Phil Keagy, Larry Philpott and Pat Turner.

Jannette Pippin / The Daily News

By JANNETTE PIPPIN Daily News Staff

Published: Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 09:01 AM.

SWANSBORO — The five candidates for three open commissioner seats in Swansboro gave differing perspectives on at least one project currently in the works by the town.

The proposed plans for the Nancy Lee Fishing Center property, which the town is working to purchase, was the topic of one of the questions fielded by candidates during a Thursday night forum held by the Swansboro Area Chamber of Commerce.

Incumbent Commissioners Gery Boucher and Larry Philpott are being challenged in their bid for reelection by former commissioner Phil Keagy, town planning board chairman Pat Turner and newcomer June Buchanan.

Boucher and Philpott joined the rest of the town board in giving the town manager approval to pursue $800,000 in grant funding for the potential purchase of the waterfront property with $100,000 in town funds put toward the purchase.

Boucher said the project is far from complete but one he feels his worth the town’s consideration.

“I think there are opportunities there,” he said, including public access as a waterfront park, protection of the coastal vista along N.C. 24 entering downtown and preserving the working waterfront and fishing heritage of the town.

SWANSBORO — The five candidates for three open commissioner seats in Swansboro gave differing perspectives on at least one project currently in the works by the town.

The proposed plans for the Nancy Lee Fishing Center property, which the town is working to purchase, was the topic of one of the questions fielded by candidates during a Thursday night forum held by the Swansboro Area Chamber of Commerce.

Incumbent Commissioners Gery Boucher and Larry Philpott are being challenged in their bid for reelection by former commissioner Phil Keagy, town planning board chairman Pat Turner and newcomer June Buchanan.

Boucher and Philpott joined the rest of the town board in giving the town manager approval to pursue $800,000 in grant funding for the potential purchase of the waterfront property with $100,000 in town funds put toward the purchase.

Boucher said the project is far from complete but one he feels his worth the town’s consideration.

“I think there are opportunities there,” he said, including public access as a waterfront park, protection of the coastal vista along N.C. 24 entering downtown and preserving the working waterfront and fishing heritage of the town.

Philpott, who has served as chairman of the town’s Waterfront Access Advisory Committee, said the Sunset Park project would fit with those plans. If the grant funding can be secured to make the purchase possible, he said there are opportunities such as kayaking, fishing and boat dockage.

Turner said the project, if done responsibly, is an opportunity to enhance recreation and use of the downtown waterfront that attracts visitors and residents to the Friendly City by the Sea. She has also said it is in line with recommendations from initiatives such as the Downtown Renaissance plan and Gateway Vision Summit.

But Buchanan and Keagy are cautious in their views.

Buchanan encourages park improvements and activities and events downtown but said from the financial standpoint, the proposed Sunset Park purchase isn’t possible without grant funds.

It was also noted that it’s not yet clear how the park would be used or the costs to maintain it.

The town board discussed the purchase plans in closed session, and Keagy said that he doesn’t have enough information to decide on the need for the project.

But Keagy was clear in his position on the building height in town, which has been a top issue this year.

He is adamant about keeping the 35-foot limit downtown and in the historic district and doesn’t see a need for structures taller than that elsewhere in town.

While there is agreement in keeping the height limit at 35 feet downtown, the other candidates were more flexible in their view on height limits elsewhere in town with the conditional use process now under discussion by the town.

Turner said that with conditional use, there could be higher building heights, she favors between 35 and 45 feet, to help spur development along the commercial corridor.

Buchanan wants to see progressive growth and said a conditional use zone can allow opportunities to consider higher structures in some areas but keep a balance of historic and tourism appeal.

Philpott said conditional use provides a way to consider appropriate development in some areas of town while maintaining the historic character of the town.

Boucher said the conditional use process keeps the door open for individuals, developers or companies to propose a project above 35 feet and allows for more dialogue between them and the town.